Typewriting machine



5 Sheets-Sheet i H. LJPITMAN TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Feb; '27. 1923 April 13 1926.

H. L. PITMAN TYPEWRITINQMACHINE? Filed Feb. 192s 3. Sheets-Sheet 3 g Q wimmmm U N l E S (Fli ht HENRY L. rrrnrsrt, or wnsrrtnnn, new annsnu, nssrcnon, 'ro unnnnoon "rnrnwnrrnn COMPANY, or rrnw roan, n. v a conronn'rron on nnnnw.

TYPEWEITWG MACHINE.

Application filed February 3?, i923. dcriel lilo. screen.

o of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lypewriting Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to machines tor to writing bills for telephone service, in which no I,

operation it is required to type, "in separate columns, the date, the number of messages,

the place called, the companys char e, the.

United States tax and a code symho The principal object of the invention is to provide means for expediting writing of these bills, and particularly to expedite the movement of the carriage to the tax and code columns by causing it to jump automatically to each of these columns upon the-completion.

of the entry in the preceding column. The invention is useful for other purposes, how

ever.

The typewriter-carriage is propelled in letter-feeding direction by the usual spring drum, and is controlled by suitable escape ment mechanism comprising a pinion, in mesh with a rack having teeth at letter-space intervals, on the carriage. The carriage is jumped automatically to the tan column Without attention from theoperator upon the completion of theentry in the preced ing column ofv the bill by omitting from'the rack the teeth, which would ordinarily connect the'carriage with theescapenicnt mechanism to control the letter-feeding movement of the carriage between'tliesc columns. The carriage, being unrestrained when this gap is reached, is caused to jump forward and is arrested by engagement out the escapement pinion with the next tooth on the rack, which thus positions the carriage for writing in the tax column. The amount of the tax item is always either five or ten cents. Two special keys are provided, one for writi 0'5, and tie other for writing 10 in t etait column, so that the tan is always written by a single key-stroke. It is desired to cause the carriage to jump automatically to the code col umn as an incident of the writin 1n the tax column. The pinion always ias two teeth in positions to be engaged by the rack each and is advanced a single tooth-space at operation,

so that each pinion tooth has two rack-engaging positions- Two feeding steps are ordinarily required, therefore, to move a rack-tooth past the escapement pinion. lln order to advance the carriage as desired, it is necessary to get the rack tooth which arrests the carriage in the tax column past the pinion at a single writing operation. For this purpose a cam is provided on the rack in position to,

he engaged and lifted by a rack-lifting roller forming part of the tahulating mechanism, as the carriage is advanced under the influence ot the escapement mechanisr'n due to the tax writing opera tion. This lifts the rack momentarily out of engagement with the escapenlent pinion, releasing the carriage to the action of the spring drum. When the rack descends, the pinion is opposite a second gap in the rack, so that the carriage continues to advance until nirested by a rack-toothlat the opposite side of this second gap. A single key is then operated to write the code symlool. The carriage is returned by a motor automatically set into operation at the end code symbol,

Que feature of the invention relates to the arrangement of the carriage-returning motor. and the connections between it and. the carriage, with reference to the machine. 'l hese parts are mounted upon the rear of the inachine-trains and pro ect but slightly to the rear of it. The motor and the carriage-operating connectionsare made in two separable units, each removaloly mounted on the hack of-the machine-frame. these units comprises a shaft, and these shafts are substantially aligned and are loosely connected when operatively positioned, with provision. for universal movement. Such provision makes it unnecessary to align the shattsaccurately when mounting the units upon the machine.

Another feature of the invention is the tillot each line; that is, loy the writing of the Each oi modificutionot thetahulating frame of the 7 machine to give clearance for the passage of the motor-connections, The pivot-shalt of the tabulating frame is divided, and its so tions are connected by a member, at one side of them, which surrounds and is braced by the rod on which the tabulatingstops are y muted. A shaft, driven by the. motor,

passes through the opening thus formed in the tabulator-frame shaft.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of improved mechanism for automatically line-spacing the platen, as an inciplaten. The connection between the slotted crank and the vertical pin is loose to permit vertical movement of the pin independently of the crank in case-shifting, and the pin is of such length that the connection heconnection.

tween the line-spacing slide and the crank is not afi'ected by such shifting.

Other features. and advantages. will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the machine with parts broken away for clearness of illustration.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation, showing parts of the tabulating and escapement mechanisms.

Figure 3 is a fragmentaryrear elevation of the tabulator frame, showing how provision is made for the passage of the motor Figure 5 is a fragmentary side'elevation,

showing the platen-carriage shifted for u per-case writing.

- igure 6 is a side elevation of the escapement mechanism.

Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a typewriting machine having the present improvements applied thereto Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective View, showing particularly the automatic line-spacing mec anism.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary rear sectional elevation, showing the escapement mechanism and the rack in the relative positions occupied just prior to writing the units digit in the companys charge column, when a single key-stroke will be eifective to cause the carriage to jump to the tax column.

Figure 10 is a view, similar to Figure 9, showing the rack and pinion in the positions occupied when the carriage is in the tax column. v

Figure 11 is a view, similar to Figure 9, showing the rack and inion in the positions occupied just after t e tax item has been written, the rack having advanced about one tooth-space from the position of Figure 10, and being lifted out of engagement with the pinion.

F1gure'12 is a'view, similar to Figure ,9,

in on the line-spacing showing the rack returned to lowered position but still not engaged by the pinion due to the second gap in the rackteeth.

Figure 13 is a view, similar to F igure 9, showing the rack in the position occupied when the carriage is arrested in position for writing in the code column.

Figure 14 is afragmentary plan View of the left end of the machine, showing the line-spacing mechanism.

gitudinal'section'al view, showing the linespacing mechanism.

-Figure 16 1s a fragmentary plan View of the left end of the machine, with parts broken away for clearness of illustration.

A platen 10; is rotatably mounted in a carriage 11, which is supported on a front rail 12 and a rear rail 13, and urged in, a letterfeeding direction by means of a strap 14 connected at one end to the carriage 11 and at the other end to a spring drum 15. Move-- ment of the carriage 11 under the urging of the spring drum 15 is controlled by suitable escapement mechanism, comprising a rack 16 connecte therewith and meshing with a pinion 17 having a one-way connection through a pawl 18 with an escapement wheel 19, which, in turn, is controlled by fast and loose dogs 20 and 21, respectively, operated by a universal bar 22 in the paths of type-bars 23.

Depression of a palm tabulator not shown) acts through a link 24 and an arm 25 to rock a column stop frame 26 about a shaft 27 to bring a column stop 28 operatively positioned on the frame 26 into the path of a a stop 29 mounted on the typewriter-carriage 11. Atthe sametime an arm 30 secured'to the shaft 27 will be swung downwardly to actuate a lever 31 about its pivot, to cause a roller 32 at the forward end thereof to lift the rack 16 out of engagement with the pinion 17, thereby releasing the carriage 11, and permitting it to be drawn by the spring drum 15 in letter-feeding direction until the counter-stop 29 on the carriage ismoved into engagement with thenext operatively positioned, stop 28. scribed is, in general, similar to that disclosed in the patent to H. Crutchley, No. 929,080, dated July 2v, 1909..

The machine comprises the usual number and alphabet keys 33, and, in addition, a special key 34 marked Single tax for writ Double tax been stated, the bills which the machine is designed to wr te comprise separate columns for the amount of the companys charge, the.

automatipally, upon the completionof the Wl'ltlllgdll the preceding column. To this 7 with the carriage to travel "The mechanism just de- Figure 15 is a fragmentary vertical lon-' ing O5, and a special key 35 marked i for writing'10.f As has menses end, the teeth are omitted from the rack-bar 'racletooth 36 in engagement with the pinion 1.7, it'being engaged and detained by the pinion-tooth 41. The operation of a key 33 to write, advances the escapement-pinion '17 one tooth-space, withdrawing the tooth 41 from the p ath oi liaclotootlr 36. The carriage is'tlius left unrestraii ed, and, as it passes forward out of the charge column, it continues to advance until the tooth 38 at the opposite side of the gap 37 engages a toot 43 of the pinion, as seen in Figure 10. The carriage 11 is correctly positioned for writing in the tax column when so arrested.

One of the special tax keys is operated to write the tax item, andits operation causes the pinion 17 to be advanced one toothspace, that is, moves the tooth 43 from its Figure 10 position to itsFigure 11 position.

in order to cause the rack-tooth 38 to clear the pinion 17 in this operation, so that the carriage 11 may he jumped automatically to the code column, a staple-like member 45 is arranged to embrace the rack 16, with its lower leg 46 extending-forward beyond: the teethof the rack in position to engage the roller 32 and act as a cum to lift the rack 16 momentarily out of engagement with the pinion 17. Thiscam 46 rides up onthe roller 32 as the Figure 11 position is reached, and thereby disengages the teeth 38 and 43 torel-ease the carriage to the action of the spring-drum 15. As the carriage 11 moves forward, the rack 16 quickly descends (see Figure 12), but a second gap 39 in the rack permits the carriage to continue its advance until arrested by engagement of the piniontooth 44 with the rack-tooth 40, as seen' in Figure 13. This positions the carriage for writing in the code column.

Thecarriage is automatically returned to the beginning of a new line immediately after the writing of the code symbol, there being provided, for this purpose, motorcontrolling means similar to that disclosed in the patent to F. A. Hart, No. 1,238,908, dated September 4, 1917. A link 47 is automatically thrust downward as the carriage 11 is letter-spaced, following the writing in the. code column, and, through a rocking lever 48 pivoted on the inachine fram'e 49,

, lifts a slide 50 out of engagement with a The, slide fitllS drawn rearward by ii spring 52 when lifted, and through an arm 53 rocks a shalt 54. The rockingof the shaft 54, through suitable connectionsrfor the purpose, closes a switch locking plate 51.

guides it) are rerei to start the motor 55 and simultaneously connects the motor to pinion 56 meshing with a carriagegreturning rack57 on the carriage. The motor 55 and its connections are made in separable, removable. ,units, all

of which are mounted on the back'ot themachine-frame 49, in positions such that the height of the machine is not increased by the addition of these parts. The motor 5:) is mounted on a bracket 55*, detachably secured by screws 55", or other suitable means, upon the back of the machine-frame 49.. The electrical conductors 55, which connect the, motor with the motorswitch,

terminate in a block 55, which is also reinovably secured upon the back of the machinedrame. The motor-shaft 58 has fixed upon it a sleeve 59 having slots 60 at its outer end. A second shaft 61, substantially in alignment with the motor-shaft 58, has

its end loosely received in the bore of the sleeve 59,. and carries pins or lugs 62 which are engaged loosely in the slots 60 forming a universal connection therewith, to drive the shaft 61. It will be seen that the motor withits shaft forms a readily removable and replaceable unit.- A. worm 63 on the shaft (51 drives a gear 64 on a clutchmember 64 fixed on a shaft 65. The worm 63 and gear 64 are mounted in a suitable housing 64, carried on a bracket 64*, removably SQLUTBLl upon the back of the machine-frame 49. The housing maybe partially filled with oil to lubricate the worm 63 and gear 64. The housing and its connected parts maybe readily removed as a unit, for the purpose of making repairs. The pinion 56 "is formed to co-operate with the"fixedclutchmember and is connected to the motor 55 by sliding it along the shaft 65 to engage it with the fixed clutch-member 64.

The shaft 27 of the tabulator-fran'ie 26 is divided, as seen in Figure 3, to permit the clutch-member 84 to pass through. The sections of the shaft 27 are rigidly connected by a bar 56, whichsurronnds a rod (37 ot' the tabulator-frame. A carriage-re turning key 68 is provided for use when no entry is to be made in the code cohunmor 1n the tax and code columns. This key, when actuated, swings a bell-crank (59 to lift the slide iiO-out ol engagement with the locking plate 51.

' The rack 5'7, with meshes, is supported on guides 74), carried hybrackets 71 on the carriage 11. The 'ved in luir'izontal slots 72 57, the slots being of which the pinion formed in the. rack suliicient length to permit limited move inent of the rack 57 relatively to the carriage. ll. Headed screws 73, .ouga'giug the rear face of the rack fi'i'ainlattarhcd to the guides Ti), retain the. rack 57 in position on the. gu des 70. "When the movement of the rack 57 by the motor is initiated, the rack lee lnoves relatively to the carriage until the guides engage the ends of the slots 72 in the rack, after which the, rack and carriage move in unison. During the period when the rack 57 is moving relatively to the carriage 11, the platen 10 is,automatically line-spaced, The manual line-spacing mech anism, which is, in general, similar to the usual line-spacing mechanism of the Underwood typewriter, comprises a linespacing lever 74-, a slide 75, a )awl 76 carriedby the slide 75, a ratchet w heel 77 fixed on the platen-shaft 78 for operation by the pawl 76, anda spring 79 for returning the slide to normal position. In accordance with the present invention, the slide 75 is pro 'vided with a rearward extension 80, which carries, at its rear end, a pin 81 extending vertically downward, This pin 81 is loosely embraced by a slotted crank 82 on a vertical rock-shaft 83, which is mounted on a lateral extension 84 of the bracket 71 at the left end of'the carriage 11. The shaft.

83 has a se'cond crank 85 at its lower end, which'plays in a recess 86 in the lower face of the rack 57 While the rack- 57 is being moved relatively to the carriage 11 by the motor 55, the crank 85 is moved by the rack to rock the shaft 83 clockwise. The crank 82 is thus caused to draw the line-spacing slide 75 to the rear to line-space the platen 10. The loose connection between the crank 82 and vertical pin 81 permits the platen 10 to be shifted tor upper-case writing (see Figure 2), without affecting the connection of the line-spacing slide 75 with the carriage-return rack: 57.

As the carriage is nearing the completion of its return movement, the right marginal stop is eflective through suitable connections, comprising a link: 86, to open the motorswitch and disconnect the motor 55 from the carriage-returning rack 57, as set forth in the patent to Hart, previously referred to. As soon as the rack 57 is disconnected, the spring 79 draws the line-spacing slide 75 forward to its normal position, and the slide 75, through the described connections with the rack 57 moves the rack 57 toward the right, as seen in Figure 1, relatively to the carriage 11. It will be seen that theoperator may line-space the platform 10 at will, through the operation of the line-spacing lever 74:.

A chute 87 having right" and left lateral edge gages 88 and 89, is mounted on the usual pav er-sheli 90 for aiding the bills to the plat rm 10, with their columns correctly positioned to receive the appropriate entries,

i In using the machine, a bill is guided to writing position by means of the chute 87, and the date,.number of messages, place called, and companys charge 011M163. are' made, the machine being moved, from column to column, hy operation of the usual se s tabulating mechanism, Upon the completion of the entry in the companys charge column, the carriage jumps automatical y two extra letter-spaces to the tax column. One of the special tax keys is operated to write the tax item, whereupon the carriage jumps automatically two extra letter-spaces to the code column. A key is operated to write the code symbol, andthis automatically causes the return of the carriage and the line-spacing of the platen for the beginning of a new line. Should there be no oocasion' to make an entry in the tax column in a line, the carriage may be quickly moved to the code column by simply operating the space-bar, and, should there be noentry for either the tax or code column, the carriage may be returned by operation of the carriage-return key 68. At the end of each. bill, thetotal amount of the tax items is written in the companys charge column, and the total amount of the bill is written below this. The platen may be line-spaced without returning the carriage, to position the bill for the writing of these items, by manual operation of the line-spacing lever.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, 1

claim: a

1. In a typewriting machine, the combina= tion of a power-driven carriage, carriage feed elements including a rack and a pinion, tabulating-carriage-releasing means to separate'the rack and the pinion and release the carriage for a free movement to a column stop position, and means secured to' the rack engageable with the tabulating-carriage-releasing means whereby the carriage will be automatically released and arrested within a predetermined zone during the normal op .eration of typing. a 2., In a typewriting machine, the combine tron of apower-driven carriage, a carriage feed mechanism including a feed-rack and. a rack-hoiding pinion, tabulating-carriagereleasing mechanism including means to free the rack from, the pinion and release the, carriage for a free movement to a columnstop position, and au'obstruction secured to the rack and arranged to ride over the rack releasing means whereby the carriage will be automatically released and arrested within a predetermined zone during the normal operation of typing.

3, In a typewriting machine, the combination of a power-driven carriage and a platen, typing elements, carriage-feed elements in cluding a rack and a pinion, tabulati'ng-cai'- riage-rclcasing means to separate the rack from the pinion to rcleasethe carriage for a colunlit-shipping movement, and cainming means secured to the rack and movable there with to engage with the tabuIating-carriage releasing means whereb the carriage will be automatically release to skip a predetermined zone of two letter-space distances during the normal 0 eration of typing.

4. In a typewriting machine for writing bill-s comprising a series of columns, an intermediate column of which includes only items written by a single key-stroke, a carriage, carriage-propelling means, escapement mechanism controlling the movement of the carriage, comprising a pinion, a rack on the carriage normally in mesh with two teeth of the pinion, said rack having a gap to permit the carriage to jump automatically to said intermediate column upon the completionof thewriting in the preceding column, a tooth on the rack for arresting the carriage inthe intermediate column, said tooth being followed by a second gap, and means for automatically lifting the rack out of engagement with the pinion as an incident of the writing in the intermediate column, to

permit the tooth to clear the pinion at single operation and thereby enable the carriage to jump automatically to the succeeding column.

5. In a typewriting machine for writing bills comprising a series of columns, an intermediate column of which includes only items written by a single key-stroke, a car'- riage, carriage-propelling means, escapement mechanism controlling the movement of the carriage, comprising a pinion, a rack having gaps therein for causing the carriage to jump to the intermediate column and the following column automatically, a single tooth on the rack between said gaps for positioning the carriage in the intermediate column, tabulating mechanism comprising a member in engagement with the. rack for lifting the rack out of engagement with the pinion at the will of the operator, and a cam. on the rack positioned to engage said member and automatically lift the rack as an incident of the writing in the intermediate column, to enable the carriage to jump to the succeeding column.

6., In a typewriting machine for writing bills comprising a series of columns, an intermediate column of which includes only items written by a, single key-stroke, a carriage, carriage-propelling means, escapement mechanism controlling the movement of the carriage, comprising a pinion, a rack having gaps therein for causing the carriage to jump to the intermediate column and the 1 \following column. automatically, a single tooth on the rack between said gaps for peertioning the carriage in the intermediate column, tabulating mechanism comprising a member in engagement with the rack for lifting the raclr out of engagement withv the pinion at the will of the operator, and means for causing said member to lift the rack out of engagement with the pinion automatically ment mechanism for controlling the-move ment of the carriage, tabulating mechanism operable at the will of the operator for dis connecting the carriage from the escape ment mechanism to permit the carriage to he jumped directly to a desired column, and means on the carriage, automatically moved by the'tabulating mechanism at a predetermined point, to cause the carriage to be automatically jumped to a succeeding column,

8. .In a typewriting machine for writing bills comprising a series of columns, a carriage, carriage-propelling means, escapement mechanism for controlling the movement of the carriage, tabulating mechanism operable at the will of the operator to dis connect the carriage from the escapement mechanism" to cause the carriage to he jumped directly to a desired location, and means for causing the carriage to be automatically disconnected from the escapement mechanism by .the tabul'ating mechanism at a predetermined p'oint.'

.9 In a typewriting machine, a carria 'e, carriage-propelling means, escapement methanism comprising a pinion movable step by step to control the letter-feeding move ments of the carriage, a rack normally in mesh with said pinion, and means for automatically lifting the rack out of engagement with the pinion toinitiate a space-jumping movement of the carriage, said rack having a gap in its teeth to continue the spaoejumping movement.

10, In a typewriting machine, a carriage, carriage-propellin means, escapement mech anism for controlling the movement of the carriage, ,a rack having teeth normally 1n engagement with the escapement mechanism, and means, comprising .members relatively movable under the control of the .escapement mechanism, for moving the rack automat ically beyond the reach of the-escapementspace intervals, and escapement'mechanism comprising a pinion having its teeth at letter-space intervals, and. arranged to be advanced. a tooth-space at each operation, each tooth of the pinion having two rack engagin positions, the rack having a plurahty o gaps in its teeth.- of unequal extent for causing-the carriage to jump forwar automatically, the arrangement being such that, at one of said gaps, the rack leaves engagement with one tooth of the P1111011, and is" arrested by engagement with. the next pinion-tooth but one to the tooth last engaged, whereby the length of said jump is one tooth-space less than the number of teeth omitted from the rack.

12. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, carriagevpropelling means, escapement mechanism comprising a pinion for controlling the movement of the carriage, and a rack on the carriage having teeth arranged at letter-space intervals, and normally engaging two teeth of the pinion for restra1ning the carriage by engagement with the pinion, said rack having a plurality of gaps for causing the carriage to jump automatically, one of said gaps co-operating with thepinion to cause a jump of a predetermined extent, and the other gap being of less extent, and co-operating with a cam to cause a jump of equal extent.

13. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, escapement carriagepropelling means, mechanism, a rack having its teeth arranged at letter-space intervals, connecting the carriage and the escapement mechanism, said rack having a plurality of gaps in its teeth to cause the carriage to jump forward automatically at predetermined points in its travel, and means for causing the ratio of the ex tent of the jump at the first gap to the extent of said gap to be different from the ratio of the extent of the jump at the second gap to the extent of the second gap.

14. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, carriagepropelling means, escapement mechanism controlling the movement of the carriage, a rack having teeth at letter space intervals, in engagement with the. escape-- ment mechanism,'said rack having a plurality of gaps of unequal extent betweenits teeth, and means for causing the carriage to jump equal distances at said gaps.

. 15. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, carriage-propelling means, a rack on the carriage having teeth at letter-space intervals, escapement' mechanism for controlling the movements of the carriage, comprising a inion having two teeth always in position to e engaged by the rack, said rack having two gaps in its teeth of unequal extent, for causmg the carriage to jump automatically, and means for causing said jumps to be of equal length.

16. In a typewriting machine, a carriage,

- carriage-propelling means, a rack on the carriage having teeth at letter-space intervals, escapement mechanlsm for controlling the movements of the carriage, comprising a menace pinion having two teeth always in position to be engaged by the rack, said rack having two gaps in its teeth of unequal extent, for causing the carriage to jump automatically, the first of said jumps being unequal 1711 -ex tent to the extent of the gap in the rack which controls it, and means for causing the other jump to be equal in extent to the e X-' tent of the gap in the rack which controls it.

17. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, carriagepropelling means, a rack on the car riage having its teeth arranged at letterspace intervals, escapement mechanism COIIIV prising a pinion having its teethat letter space intervals, and arranged to be advanced a tooth-space at each operation, each tooth of the pinion having two rack-engaging positions, the rack having a gap in its teeth for causing the carriage to jump forward as the pinion-tooth which engages the last rack-tooth in advance of the gap moves from its second rack-engaging position, a tooth on the rack at the opposite side of the gap for arresting the jump of the carriage by engaging the next tooth but one of the pinion to that last engaged, and means for automati cally disengaging said last-mentioned rack and pinion teeth as said pinion-tooth moves from the first to the second rack-engaging position.

18. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, carriagepropelling means, escapement mechanism, a bar having rack teeth connecting it to the escapement mechanism, a rack lifting member engaging with the bar, and a rack-disengaging device carried by the rack and bar .andengageable with the racklifting,member to cam the rack teeth free of the escapement mechanism. 7 4

l9. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, carriage-propelling means, escapement mechanism, a rack having teeth connecting it to the escapement mechanism, a racln' disengaging device positioned on the rack between two of its teeth, and having a portion projecting beyond said teeth, and a rack-lifting member for engaging said projecting portion of the disengaging device to matically riding over said roller to disen-' gage the rack and cscapement mechanism to control the duration of such disengagement and cause the carriage to ump a predetermined distance.

HENRY L. PITMAN. 

